How universal are universal rDNA primers? A cautionary note for plan systematists and phylogeneticists

Abstract

Phylogenetic relationships are frequently inferred from rDNA ITS sequences obtained employing universal primers. Whereas in most cases phylogenetic topologies inferred from ITS data make good biological sense, caution has to be used when a number of taxa vary greatly in PCR yield. The phylogenetic implications of such a scenario are discussed.